Syrian spokesperson blames western powers for influencing revolts

A Syrian official on Monday accused the West of taking advantage of the Middle Eastern country’s unrest to try to destabilize it and warned the opposition that militarizing is a big mistake that will backfire. Foreign Ministry
spokesman Jihad Makdissi said the only way out of the current crisis that has killed thousands of people is for all parties to sit around the negotiating table and engage in dialogue.

The government of President Bashar Assad has for months been battling an uprising of Syrians calling for his ouster. Western countries, including the U.S., have condemned the increasingly bloody methods Assad's government has used
to put down the revolt.

Activist groups on Monday said the death toll from nearly a year of unrest has surpassed 8,000 people, mostly civilians. The Syrian government says it is fighting against armed groups pushing a foreign agenda.

“The West took advantage of the awakening of the Syrian street. Instead of helping Syria to overcome this painful crisis, they are using this to hit the stability of Syria for other geopolitical reasons,” Makdissi said. The spokesman
would not elaborate on what he meant, but Syria occupies a complex place in the Middle East that affects and is affected by Iran, Israel, Lebanon and Iraq.

Syria maintains an intricate web of allegiances to powerful forces, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran. The toppling of Assad would mark a major blow to Iran, which depends on Damascus as its main Arab ally and a pathway to
aid Iran’s proxy Hezbollah.

“Syria suffers from the curse of Syria’s geopolitics,” Makdissi said. While U.S. officials have warned against taking actions that would contribute to the further militarization of Syria, many in the opposition now say openly that
they are getting arms through smuggling routes.